American Hustle Writer/Director David O. Russell's New Primetime Soap Gets Greenlight Straight To Series By ABC!

David O. Russell’s American Hustle has been nominated for ten Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for Russell. Now, he will bring his talents to the small screen in a brand new untitled primetime soap opera on ABC!

According to Deadline.com: ABC has given a straight-to-series 13-episode order to a drama project from the American Hustle writer/director and Erin Brockovich writer Susannah Grant. The series, developed by CBS TV Studios and studio-based Timberman/Beverly, is an upstairs/downstairs soap set at a private country club. Russell and Grant co-wrote the story, with Grant writing the teleplay.

The two are executive producing with Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly; CBS Studios CBS Studios is co-producing with ABC Studios. This marks the first TV series for Russell, the hottest filmmaker at the moment with rare back-to-back Best Picture Oscar nominees — American Hustle this year and Silver Linings Playbook.”

What do you think of the concept of the soap set in a private country club? What do you think of ABC’s continued interest in bringing soap to their primetime line-up including Revenge, Nashville and now this untitled project? Weigh-in!

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janet

They are coping Downton Abbey. If this guy hires the soap writers it won’t last. JF is a writer who knows his stuff and he writes for the viewers.Plus the actors are actually talented and know their job. I hope its good but if its Downton Abbey light I will stick with the original. Guess we should have been expecting it, D A has been destroying the regular channels.

Reply

January 23, 2014 10:28 am

jonboy

Any serialized drama (the word soap is so dated) is welcome.

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January 23, 2014 11:26 am

davlestev1

So agree. The days of organ music have been LONG GONE. Re-brand the genre and bring in viewers.

Reply

January 23, 2014 1:53 pm

mfarris70

I would love to see a serial that wasn’t about rich people! There’s plenty of drama in the lives of middle class and working poor in this country.

In major developments in the last several hours, Jussie Smollett (Jamal Lyon, Empire) turned himself in to Chicago police early Thursday morning, just hours after he was charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself late in January on the streets in Chicago.

In a press conference currently being conducted by the CPD supervisor, Eddie Johnson and Commander Edward Wodnick, they revealed that Smollett turned himself in quietly and without issue. In addition, the Chicago PD are outlining the events and timeline that led to Smollett’s arrest.

Smollett turned himself in at the Central District police station in Chicago at 5 a.m., police reported. Thursday morning, Smollett was scheduled to appear for a bail hearing Thursday at 1:30pm central time on a felony charge of a class 4 disorderly conduct, and with that charge Smollett could face up to 1.5 years in prison.

Jussie’s attorney’s released the following statement on Wednesday night after Smollett was charged by the Chicago PD: “Like any other citizen, Mr. Smollett enjoys the presumption of innocence, particularly when there has been an investigation like this one where information, both true and false, has been repeatedly leaked. Given these circumstances, we intend to conduct a thorough investigation and to mount an aggressive defense.”

Smollett reported that he has been attacked as he was walking home around. He claimed two masked men shouted racist and homophobic slurs as they beat him, put a noose around his neck, and poured a chemical on to him.

Enter two brothers, Ola and Abel Osundairo, who Smollett knew, who were arrested last week, but later released as suspects. The two brothers told police they helped stage the attack with Smollett. They were paid $3,500 to orchestrate the attack by Smollett. In their press conference, the Chicago PD revealed that they have the check as evidence were Smollett paid the brothers that sum.

The brothers left for Nigeria hours after the attack, and were arrested days later when they returned to Chicago. On Wednesday, they testified to a grand jury. Smollett was later charged with disorderly conduct.

What do you think now about the events and the arrest of Jussie Smollett? Comment below! But first watch the Chicago PD police department.live feed of the press conference on Smollett’s arrest.

Thad Luckinbill Back Taping At The Young and the Restless

February 21, 2019

Well, well, well! Look who is back on set at The Young and the Restless! Thad Luckinbill, who is presumed dead as J.T. Hellstrom, was seen walking around the sound stages at CBS Television City on Wednesday.

Denise Richards Joins The Cast Of The Bold and the Beautiful

February 20, 2019

Looks Like Denise Richards will be pulling double duty! After recently joining the new season of Bravo’s hit reality show franchise, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, the actress has also joined CBS Daytime’s The Bold and the Beautiful.

In casting news out of PEOPLE.com, Richards is set to play Flo’s mom (Katrina Bowden), Shauna Fulton.

Richards is joining B&B in a contract role. What we do know from the series EP and head writer, Brad Bell as told to PEOPLE: “Shauna is a fun-loving, hard-working single mother from Las Vegas who aspires to live life to its absolute fullest. She heads for Los Angeles when she learns that her daughter, Florence ‘Flo’, the pride and joy of her life, is entangled in a complicated situation. However, Shauna’s involvement won’t stop there. She’s got a past and big secrets to spill.”

Look for Denise to start her B&B adventure taping all-new episodes this Friday with her debut on April 3.

In the meantime you can catch Richards on RHOBH as their season kicked-off last week on February 12th.

So, what do you think of the addition of Denise Richards to The Bold and the Beautiful? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.